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Institute of Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office

News Policy

Policy for news items on the epi website

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News

European Parliament wants to ban patents for NGT plants

February 02, 2024

EU Parliament to vote on a new patentability exclusion thereby re-opening the Biotech Patent Directive

Biotechnology has been identified as one of the key technologies with a significant potential to boost Europe’s competitiveness whilst providing solutions that contribute to reaching the EU’s sustainability ambitions. A new Regulation for plants produced by certain New Genomic Techniques (NGT), such as targeted gene editing, would represent an important milestone in fostering the biotechnology sector in Europe, although it has been contentious to what extent such genetically modified organisms should be permitted to be released into nature.

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Webinar Series on Patent Litigation

January 24, 2024

With the start of the UPC patentees will have the choice to litigate their European patents either before the UPC or before a national court. In this series of webinars the specifics of patent litigation before the national courts will be considered per country.

• 20 March 2024: France
• 24 April 2024: United Kingdom
• 8 May 2024: Italy
• 19 June 2024: Scandinavian Countries

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New European Qualifying Examination regulations approved

December 20, 2023

On 14 December 2023, the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation unanimously approved amendments to the “Regulation on the European Qualifying Examination” for the purposes of launching the new European Qualifying Examination (EQE) in 2025, complete with transitional measures for current EQE candidates.

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Amendment to the Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal

December 14, 2023

On 13 December 2023, the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organization approved amendments to Articles 13(2), 15(1) and 15(9)(b) of the Rules of Procedure of the Boards of Appeal.

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Act now to keep access to EPO systems

December 04, 2023

As all members should be aware, the EPO is phasing out smart card access and closing other familiar services during 2024.
These closures begin to take effect from 1 January 2024. Transition to the new systems requires planning & training by users.

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